Imprimatur Tho. Tomkyns RRmo in Christo Patri ac Domino Domino Gilberto Divinâ Providentiâ Archi-Episcopo Cantuariensi à sacris domesticis Apr. 29. THE FAMOUS EPISTLES OF Saint Polycarp and Saint Ignatius Disciples to the holy Evangelist and Apostle Saint JOHN With the EPISTLE of St BARNABAS And some remarks upon their Lives and Deaths Translated according to the best Copies out of the Original Greek into English By Thomas Elborowe Vicar of Chiswick in the County of Middlesex In the SAVOY Printed by Tho. Newcomb for William Grantham at the Sign of the Black Bear in Westminster-Hall 1668. TO THE REVEREND FATHER in GOD ROBERT Lord Bishop of Worcester My Lord I Have been your debter these many years and although I was perswaded formerly to appear in print in a short Exposition upon the Book of Common-Prayer yet that small and imperfect piece did seek protection from the wings of another It is my happiness now to make choice of a Subject most proper and fit for your Lordships Patronage wherein Christianity and the Fence about it the Vine and the Hedge are so delineated according to the Primitive Patterns that this present age wherein we live may blush and stand amazed to see how much short they are in the practise of that Religion which they profess and be ashamed of themselves that they of the first Age should be Christians indeed whilst too many of this are onely Christians in Name It hath been very well observed by the Antient Fathers and as much by these two as by any Holy Polycarp and Divine Ignatius who fly to the sacred wings of your Lordships protection to secure them from a second Martyrdom which the unkind world may threaten them withall That Religion consists more in practice than in speculation and is rather an Occupation than a meer Profession But I will detain your Lordship no longer from the reading of them in our plain English whom you have so often conversed with in their own Language Thus having discharged a small part of my debt which yet your Acceptance will double upon me I remain your Lordships debter still ever praying for your Lordships health and happiness Your dutiful and obedient Son Thomas Elborowe The Life and Death of Saint POLYCARP Martyr Bishop of the Church of Smyrna and Disciple to Saint John the Evangelist POlycarp was a man of an excellent Spirit an eminent Christian fruitful in every good work the Disciple of the blessed Apostle and Evangelist Saint John not onely instructed by the Apostles in the Doctrine of Christianity and continually conversant amongst them who had seen Christ in the flesh but he was by the Apostles themselves ordained Bishop of the Church of Smyrna in Asia He was that famous Angel so much commended for his Pietie Patience and Constancie Revel 2. 8 9 10. when 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very great persecutions disturbed and vexed all Asia and fell very heavie upon that City where he was then Metropolitan Irenaeus who was Polycarps Disciple makes mention of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his conversation with John and gives him this Style that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iren. epist ad Florin That blessed and Apostolical Presbyter He further reports of him thus that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iren. lib. 3. advers haeres c. 3. made Bishop over the Church of Smyrna in Asia by the Apostles themselves Tertullian Tertul. in lib. de praescript advers haeres shewing how the Apostolical Churches derived their Successions mentioned Polycarp placed over the Church of Smyrna by John He is styled by Eusebius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euseb Eccles hist lib 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a person very familiar with the Apostles and is said by the same author to have obtained 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Episcopacie of the Church of Smyrna by the joynt suffrage of those who had seen the Lord and were Jerom. in Script eccles catalog his Ministers Jerom says he was a Disciple of John the Apostle and by him ordained Metropolitan Bishop of Smyrna for he was Totius Asiae Princeps the Prince of all Asia Gildas saith he was Egregius Pastor Christi Gildas in castig cler Britan. testis an excellent Pastour and Witness of Christ The very heathens thinking to disgrace him the more did give him this honourable Eulogie that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Doctor of Asia the Father of the Christians This godly Professor and great Prelate lived to a very great age and finishing his life by a glorious Martyrdom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euseb l. 4. c. 12. did as it were seal up by his Martyrdom and put a Period to the persecution which then raged This happened under the reign of Marcus Aurelius Philosophus and Lucius Verus Roman Emperours Very memorable things are recorded of this great Saint and Martyr by Eusebius to Euseb eccles hist lib. 4. whom I refer my Reader This briefly touching Polycarp himself I come now to speak as briefly of his Works and Writings Divers are by divers attributed to him Some make mention of many Tracts Homilies and Epistles which he wrote and of Vid. Halloix vit Polycarp c. 16. One entire Book composed by him upon the Death of Saint John the Evangelist his Master Suidas mentions Epistles written by him to Dionysius the Areopagite and to Suidas in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 several Churches Irenaeus who was his Disciple mentions Epistles written by him Iren. epist ad Florin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To neighbour Churches and to certain of the Brethren But these shall not be a matter of my further enquirie whether so or not so I shall now give you a brief account out of some of the Ancients touching this Epistle of his written to the Philippians Photius reports it to be read publickly in Churches Photius in Bibliothec num 126. his word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and gives it out to be an Epistle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 full of many admirable Admonitions clear and plain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the Ecclesiastical form of interpretation then used Jerom styles it Epistolam Jerom. in Scrip. Eccles catal valdè utilem a very useful Epistle and reports it to be read in the Churches of Asia to his very time Irenaeus saith it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a most full and complete Epistle out of which all who are willing to learn and have any care or value for their Salvation may learn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iren. advers haeres lib. 3. c. 3. Euseb Eccles hist. lib. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the exact form of Faith and Doctrine of Truth Eusebius says the very same out of Irenaeus Sophronius and Suidas style it an Epistle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very admirable Maximus the Scholiast reports him to have written Epistles Suid. in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Philippians but that is supposed a
judgements who have discovered truth to be in those very interpolate Epistles Andrew Rivet an eminent man makes this out sufficiently However I now publish those Epistles which are genuine and in all respects agreeing with the testimony of the Antients so that they who will deny these must deny also that this Martyr ever wrote any Epistles But let them enjoy their own opinion for my part I am assured that they will meet with very few of the same and none that can be of it with reason But Courteous Reader thou art indebted to the Medicaean Library that thou hast these writings of Ignatius pure and not counterfeit and thou art indebted to the most Serene Prince Ferdinand the second the great Duke of Etruria through whose incomparable Love to Learning and Study I gained an opportunity of having the use of that famous Librarie and so of finding out this incomparable treasure of Ignatius which we now exhibit and publish to the world The Epistles of Saint Ignatius To the Smyrneans Ignatius who is also Theophorus to the Church of God the Father and of the beloved Jesus Christ which hath obtained mercy in all Grace replete with Faith and Love failing in no good gift most becoming God and fruitful in holiness which is at Smyrna in Asia be very much joy in the immaculate Spirit by the Word of God I Glorifie the God Jesus Christ who hath filled you with Wisdom For I understand that ye are perfected in an immoveable faith and are as persons fastened with nails to the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ both in flesh and in spirit and well-grounded in love by the bloud of Christ having a full assurance in our Lord who was truly of the stock of David according to the flesh the Son of God according to the will and power of God truly born of a Virgin baptized by John that he might fulfil all righteousness and who truly suffered for us in the flesh under Pontius Pilate and Herod the Tetrarch From the fruit of whom we are even from his divinely blessed Passion that he might by his Resurrection lift up an ensign to all ages to the Saints and to all who do believe in him whether they be Jews or Gentiles in one body of his Church For he suffered all these things for us that we might be saved And he truly suffered as also he truly raised up himself neither did he suffer onely in appearance as some infidels affirm who themselves are onely in appearance and according to their wisdom shall it happen unto them being incorporeal and daemoniacks For I my self saw him in the flesh after his Resurrection and do believe that he is risen And when he came to those who were with Peter he said unto them Take hold of me handle me and see me for I am not an incorporeal spirit And straightway they touched him and believed in him being convinced by his flesh and by his spirit And hereupon they contemned death for they found themselves to be above it And after his Resurrection he eat and drank with them as one in the flesh though he was in spirit united to the Father Touching these things Beloved I admonish you however I know ye are already of this perswasion I do it to preserve you from beasts in the shape of men whom it is necessarie for you not to entertain but to avoid as much as possible Onely pray for them if happily they may repent which is a thing very difficult But Jesus Christ who is our true life hath the power of this But if these things were done by our Lord onely seemingly then am I also seemingly in bonds And why have I yielded up my self to be put to death why to the fire to the sword to the beasts but because to be nigh to the sword is to be nigh to God and to be inclosed with beasts is to be compassed about with God Only in the Name of Jesus Christ do I endure all things that I may suffer with him who is himself made a perfect man and now strengtheneth me Whom some ignorant men denie but they are rather denied by him being more the Preachers of death than of truth whom neither the Prophets have perswaded nor the Law of Moses nor yet the Gospel hitherto nor those suffrings of ours which are according to man For they are of the same mind concerning us But what would it advantage me should any man speak in my praise and yet blaspheme my Lord denying him to have taken flesh upon him For he who confesseth not this hath perfectly denied him and puts him to death But I am unwilling to write down their infidel names neither may I make any particular remembrance of them until they shall happily repent into a belief of the Passion which is our Resurrection Let no man be deceived For if things in heaven and the glory of Angels and Rulers visible and invisible believe not in the bloud of Christ it will be even unto them condemnation He who receiveth it may receive it Let place puff up no man for Faith and Charity is All and nothing is to be preferred before them But observe those who are otherwise opinioned of the grace of Jesus Christ which came unto us how contrary they are to the judgement of God They have no regard at all of Charity they neither care for the Widow nor Orphan nor any afflicted person be he bond or free hungry or thirstie They absent themselves from the Eucharist and Prayer because they will not confess the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ which suffered for our sins and which the Father by his goodness raised from death to life Therefore contradicting this gift of God and disputing about it they die but it would be better for them to Love it that they may rise again It is very convenient that ye abstain from such persons and that ye have no converse with them neither privately nor publikely But that ye give heed unto the Prophets and chiefly to the Gospel wherein the Passion is made manifest unto us and the Resurrection is completed But avoid Divisions as the beginning of evils And be all of you observant of the Bishop as Jesus Christ was observant of the Father and observe the Presbyterie as the Apostles and Reverence the Deacons as the command of God Let no man presume to do any thing belonging to the Church without the Bishop And let that Eucharist onely be accounted firm which is either performed by the Bishop himself or by his Licence Where the Bishop shall appear there let the multitude be for where Jesus Christ is there is the Catholique Church It is neither lawful to baptize nor to keep the Love-feast without the Bishop but whatever he shall approve of that is well-pleasing to God that so every thing which is done may be firm and established Furthermore it is a blessed thing to grow sober and whilst we have opportunity to
did view over your whole multitude in him Therefore receiving from him that good disposition of mind which is according to God I gloried finding you as I had known you the followers of God For in regard ye are subject to the Bishop as to Jesus Christ ye appear to me not to live as men but to live according to Jesus Christ who died for us that believing in his death ye may escape death Therefore it is necessâ—ry as ye do to do nothing without the Bishop but that ye be subject to the Presbyterie as to the Apostles of Jesus Christ our Hope in whom we should be found having our conversation It behooves the Deacons also being the Mysterie of Jesus Christ to please all men every manner of way For they are not the Ministers of meats and drinks but Ministers of the Church of God Therefore it is necessary for them to avoid accusations as fire Let all in like manner reverence the Deacons as Jesus Christ and the Bishop being the Son of the Father and the Presbyters as the Council of God and companie of the Apostles Without these a Church is not called Of whom I am perswaded that ye are so informed For I have received the Exemplar of your love and have it by me in your Bishop whose behaviour is a great Disciplination and his meekness power whom I think that very Atheists do reverence being satisfied that I spare not my self Formerly though I might have matter to write I thought not fit for this cause lest being a condemned person I might seem to command you as an Apostle I am wise in God as to many things yet do I measure my self that I may not be destroyed by boasting For now it behooves me to be very much affraid and not to give heed to those who would puff me up For when such speak unto me they scourge me Truly I love to suffer but know not whether I am worthy For my zeal appears not to many but I have the greater war within I have need therefore of meekness that by it the prince of this world may be defeated Cannot I write unto you of things celestial but I am affraid lest I should give you some offence being yet but babes Therefore pardon me for I would not perplexe you with those things which ye are not able to bear For it is not for a slightie matter that I am a Prisoner being acquainted with things celestial and the Angelical Orders and their governing Constitutions things visible and invisible and besides this I am now a Disciple For many things are wanting to you that we may not fall short of God Therefore I exhort you not I but the love of Jesus Christ to use only the Christian nutriment and to abstain from that strange herb which is heresie For the times are such that persons worthy of credit seemingly do fold in heresie with Jesus Christ like those who administer deadly poison and temper it with a drink made of honey and sowre wine which the ignorant receives with pleasure and so dies by an evil delectation Therefore preserve your selves from such and so it shall be if ye are not puffed up being inseparable from God Jesus Christ and the Bishop and the Orders of the Apostles He who is within the Altar is pure that is he who does any thing without the Bishop Presbyterie and Deacons is of an impure Conscience Not that I have known any such thing among you but foreseeing the subtilties of the devil I take care of you before hand being my beloved Do ye therefore re-assuming your mild disposition build up your selves anew in the faith which is the flesh of the Lord in love which is the bloud of Jesus Christ Let none among you have any quarrel against his Neighbour Give no offences to the Gentiles that the Multitude which is in God be not blasphemed by a few foolish men For Wo to him through whose foolishness my Name is blasphemed amongst some Therefore be deaf to him who speaks to you without Jesus Christ who was of the stock of David and of Mary who was truly born eat and drank was truly persecuted under Pontius Pilate was truly crucified dead things in heaven on earth and under the earth beholding him And was truly raised again from the dead his Father raising him up according to his likeness as his Father will raise up us also if we believe in him through Jesus Christ without whom we have no true life But if as some Atheists that is Infidels say He suffered only in appearance as they themselves are only in appearance why am I in bonds and why do I pray that I may fight with beasts therefore do I not die without reward and am I not a lyar against the Lord Fly therefore evil plants which bring forth deadly fruit which if a man taste of he dies presently For these are not the Plantation of the Father if they were they would appear branches of the Cross and their fruit would be incorruptible Through which Cross by his Passion he Advocates for you being his Members The Head therefore cannot be born without the Members God having promised the Vnion of them who is himself I salute you from Smyrna together with the Churches of God which are present with me who have every way refreshed me both in flesh and spirit My bonds which I carry about for Jesus Christ do admonish you that I desire to enjoy God Continue in your Vnanimitie anâ— in Prayer one for another For it become you all one by one exceedingly and the Presbyters to comfort up the Bishop for the honour of the Father of Jesus Christ and oâ— the Apostles I beseech you in love to heaâ— me that writing unto you I may not be â— witness within you Pray also for me out oâ— that Charitie which is in you for I need thâ— mercy of God that I may be accounteâ— worthy of the Lot which I labour to enjoy and may not be found Reprobate The lovâ— of the Smyrneans and Ephesians saluteth you Remember in your prayers the Church which is in Syria whence I am not worthâ— to be called being the last of them Farewel in Jesus Christ being subject to the Bishop as to the Commandement and likewise to the Presbyterie And love one anotheâ— man by man with an undivided heart My Spirit shall be an expiation for you not onely now but when I shall enjoy God For as yet I am in danger but the Father who is faithful will fulfil my Petition and yours in Jesus Christ in whom may ye be found unblameable To the Trallians To the Romans Ignatius who is also Theophorus to the Church which hath obtained Mercy through the Magnificence of the most high Father and Jesus Christ his onely begotten Son sanctified and enlightned by him who willeth all things which are according to the love of Jesus Christ our God which is President over the Churches about in the Region of the
heart My purpose is in brief to shew you what he was of what esteem in the Church and how he ended his life by a glorious Martyrdom which I shall do out of those Writers of Antiquity who were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 persons worthy of credit and of very venerable esteem in the Church of Christ Origen reports him Episcopum Antiochiae Homil. 6. in Luc. post Petrum secundum The second Bishop of Antioch after Peter Athanasius In lib. de Synod said he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arimin Seleue. Made Bishop of Antioch after the Apostles and a Martyr of Christ Irenaeus hath written Iren. lib. 5. advers haeres c. 28. of him thus that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a testimony of his faith towards God condemned to beasts Chrysostom saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost in Ignat encom tom 5. edit Savil p. 499. that he was familiarly conversant with the Apostles nourished up together with them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that he was by them esteemed worthy of so greaâ— a Principality meaning undoubtedly thâ— Episcopacie of the Church of Antioch foâ— he says presently after that he was not onl◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worthy of so great â— Principality but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he obtained thaâ— dignity from those holy persons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the hands of the blessed Apostles themselves were laid upon his holy head Theodoret says he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodor. Dialog 1. a most famous Doctor of the Church and that he received 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Grace of the High-priesthood by the right hand of glorious Peter and that after he had governed the Church of Antioch he was crowned with Martyrdom Jerom says he was the Jerom. Scriptor eccles catalog Socrat. eccles hist l. 6. c. 8. Evagr. eccles hist lib. 1. c. 16. Gildas in cactigaâ— Cler. Britan third Bishop of the Church of Antioch after Saint Peter the Apostle Socrates says the same and that he was very much a companion of the Apostles He is styled by Evagrius I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Divine Ignatius Gildas in his time said that the Brittish Clergy were not onely not good enough to be accounted Priests but scarce good enough to be esteemed mean Christians in compâ—rison of him Scaligâ—r says he was Vir singulari eruditione a man of sinâ—ular Learning Neander says he was Vir â—agni spiritus fidei zeli a man of a â—reat spirit faith and zeal Baronius styles â—im Copiosam Apostolicarum traditionum Apothecam fortémque adversus haereticos â—rmaturam A copious Store-house of Apostolical traditions and a strong armour against heretiques He suffred a glorious Jerom. in Script eccles catal Martyrdom under the Emperour Trajan and being brought bound from Antioch to Rome was condemned to be devoured by beasts Here I conclude touching Ignatius himself I come now to speak something of his Writings It is the judgement of learned men that many Epistles are ascribed to him which were never written by him but were the Epistles of some latter supposititious writers who did imitate his Style which are these Epistles following 1. The Epistle written from Philippi to the Church of Tarsus 2. The Epistle written from Philippi to the Church of Antioch 3. The Epistle written from Philippi to Heron Deacon of the Church of Antioch 4. The Epistle written to the Philippians touching Baptism which Epistle makes mention of several Feasts the Quadragesimal Fast and the Passion week to be observed and from this very passage Mr John Calvin took hâ— Calvin Instit lib. 1. c. 13. Sect. 29. occasion to speak against the Epistles â—â— Ignatius or rather against that Epistle now his objection being against that which â—â— not numbred amongst the Genuine Epistles Vid. D. Rivet Critic Sacr. c. 1. can make no thing against those Epistles oâ— his which will hereafter appear to bâ— Genuine 5. An Epistle written from Antioch to Maria Cassobolita is ascribed to Ignatius 6. Two Epistles written to Saint John the Evangelist 7. One short Epistle written to the blessed Virgin Mary these are all ascribed to Ignatius Indeed in the forementioned Epistles we may meet with much of Ignatius Spirit Style Method Matter and his very Expressions yet they are not accounted his Genuine Epistles and in regard they are not received for the true Epistles of Ignatius nor found in that Sylloge or Collection made by Polycarp at the end of his Epistle to the Philippians therefore though I have translated them I have forborn the publishing of them and yet there are many excellent things in them very much conducing to Christianity Having hitherto given a brief account of those Epistles which are supposed false I come now to make enquiry after those which are without all question true First that Ignatius wrote Epistles is not to be questioned unâ—ess we will also question all Antiquitie for â—he Ancient Fathers of the Church make â—requent mention of his Epistles and fetch Citations out of them as being of great moment and good authority Eusebius by name tells us expresly what Epistles Ignatius wrote and from whence he wrote them and to whom Whilst he was at Smyrna and upon his voyage to Rome he wrote Epistles from Smyrna to the Ephesians Euseb Eccles hist. lib. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Magnesians Trallians and Romans when he was gon from Smyrna to Troas he wrote from Troas to the Church of Philadelphia to the Church of Smyrna and to Polycarp Here we have the just number of those Epistles which were accounted his being seven in all Well though we have found out the seven Epistles which were his yet we have not brought our search to the full point the proper 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for there were several Copies of these Epistles found in several Libraries and Manuscripts by the diligent search of able and learned men fitted for such an imployment Now of these Copies some were corrupt and interpolate such were the Epistles published in Greek with the Vulgar Latine version by the Right Reverend Father in God Bishop Vsher Primate of Ireland and by hiâ— printed at Oxford Anno Dom. 1644. Masteâ— Isaac Vossius published the same in an Edâ—tion of his which was printed at Amsterdam Anno Dom. 1646. I believe Masteâ— John Calvin the Centuriators Doctor Whitâ—aker and some others made their Exceptions and Objections against these Epistles and justly enough rejecting them a◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 refuse and adulteratâ— stuff for their quarrel was not against the Epistles of Ignatius but against the corruptions and interpolations inserted and put into his Epistles And this is the opinion of Doctor Rivet Calvinum non in Ignatium Rivet Crit. Sacr. c. 1. sed in quisquilias naenias depravatorum Ignatii invectum esse That Calvin inveighed not against Ignatius but against those who corrupted and depraved him But besides
Flee evil arts but especially have no conferences about them Bespeak my sisters that they love the Loâ—â— Christ and that they furnish their husbanâ— with all necessaries both for their flesh and spiritual estate And in like mannâ—â— admonish my brethren in the name of Jesâ—â— Christ to love their wives as the Lord love tâ— the Church If a man can continue chaâ— to the honour of the flesh of our Lord leâ— him remain so but let him not glory For â—â— he glory in it he will be destroy'd and iâ— be would be more taken notice of thaâ— the Bishop he is corrupted It is meet that they who marry and are given in marriage should be joyned together by the sentence of the Bishop that so the marriage may be according to God and not according to concupiscence Let all things be done to the honour of God Be mindful of the Bishop that God may be mindful of you I could give my life for those persons who are subject to the Bishops Presbyters and Deacons and wish that I may receive my part in God together with them Labour together one for another strive together run together suffer together sleep together awake together as the Stewards Assessors and Ministers of God Do things pleasing to him whom ye fight for and whose souldiers ye are from whom ye expect your salarie Let none among you be found a desertor of his Colours Let your Baptism arm you Faith be your helmet Love your spear Patience your whole armour and your Works your gage that ye may receive a reward worthy of you Therefore bear patiently in meekness one with another as God bears with you Let me enjoy you always But in that the Church which is in Antioch of Syria is at peace through your Prayers as it is manifested to me I was therefore the more cheerful and intent upon the things of God without distraction that by any means I may through sufferings enjoy God and be found your Disciple at the Resurrection O Polycarp most blessed of God it becomes thee to gather together a Council most becoming God and to appoint some worthy person whom ye esteem highly in love whom ye look upon as a diligent man fit to be called a Messenger of God and that this honour be bestowed upon him To go into Syria there to spread abroad your forward Charitie to the glory of Christ A Christian hath no power over himself but is to attend the things of God When ye shall have dispatched this business the work shall be ascribed to God and to you For I believe that through Grace ye are prepared for so good a work pleasing to God and knowing how compendiously yâ— are capable of truth I have exhorted you iâ— few Letters But because I cannot write unto all the Churches in regard I am suddenly to sail from Troas to Neapolis as I am commanded thou shalt write to those other Churches who art possessed with the mind of God that they do the same thing That they who are able may send footposts others Epistles by thy Messengers that ye may all be glorified by an eternal work as thou art worthy I salute all by name and the wife of Epitropus with her whole house and her childrens I salute my beloved Attalus I salute him who shall be accounted worthy to go into Syria I pray that the grace which is in our God Jesus Christ may be always with him In whom do ye continue permanent in the Unitie and Visitation of God I salute Alke a name desireable to me Farewel in the Lord. To Polycarp To the Ephesians Ignatius who is also Theophorus to the Church blessed in the greatness of God the Father with all fulness praedetermined before ages to be ever permanent unto glory immutable united elect by real sufferings through the will of the Father and Jesus Christ our God To the Church worthy of all blessedness which is in Ephesus of Asia be very much joy in Jesus Christ and in immaculate grace APproving of thy name in God highly beloved which ye have possessed by a just title according to the faith and love which is in Christ Jesus our Saviour I exhort you to continue followers of God and that being re-inlivened by the bloud of God ye perfect that work which is so suitable to you For ye heard that I was a prisoner from Syria for the common Name and Hope and that I hoped through your Prayers that I should be inabled to fight with beasts at Rome that so I might become through Martyrdom a Disciple of him Who offered up himself to God for us an oblation and sacrifice I have compendiously apprehended your very numerous multitude in the name of God by Onesimus your Bishop in the flesh whose charitie is beyond expression whom I beseech you to love according to Jesus Christ and all of you to be like unto him Blessed be he who hath bestowed so worthy a Bishop upon you so worthy of him And I pray that my fellow servant Burrus who is your Deacon every way blessed according to God may continue to the honour of you and the Bishop Crocus also who is worthy of God and of you whom I have received as the Exemplar of your Charity hath refreshed me in all things as the Father of Jesus Christ will also give refreshing unto him and to Onesimus and Burrus and Euplus and Fronton in whom I have viewed you all in love I would enjoy you always if I might be worthy of it Therefore it becomes you every way to glorifie Jesus Christ who glorifies you that being perfected and knit up in one and the same subjection and being of one mind and one judgement ye may all speak the same thing and being subject to the Bishop and the Presbytery may be sanctified in all things I do not give commands to you as if I my self was a person considerable for though I am a Prisoner for his Name yet am I not perfected in Christ Jesus For now I begin to be a Disciple and speak to you as my fellow teachers For it is meet that I should be admonished by you in faith instruction patience and long sufferance But in regard my charity towards you would not suffer me to be silent I have therefore taken the first hold of this opportunity to exhort you to concur in the judgement of God As Jesus Christ himself who is our incomparable life did follow the judgement of his Father and the Bishops designed to the ends of the earth follow the judgement of Jesus Christ Therefore it is a comely thing for you to concur in the judgement of the Bishop as also ye do for your Presbytery most worthy of praise and of God is so adapted to the Bishop as strings are fitted to the harp in so much that Jesus Christ is celebrated through your Unanimity and Agreement in love Ye are all made up man by man into one Chorus and keeping the Melodie of God which
of the Council of the Apostles and the Deacons most pleasant to me having the Diaconie of Jesus Christ committed to them who was with the Father before ages and in the end appeared Having therefore all received manners like unto God reverence one another and let no man defraud his neighbour according to the flesh but love one another always in Jesus Christ Let nothing be amongst you which may possibly divide you but be united to the Bishop and to those who are Presidents over you according to the Type and Doctrine of incorruption Therefore as the Lord being united to him did nothing without the Father neither by himself nor by the Apostles so neither do ye act any thing without thâ— Bishop and the Presbyters Neither attemp any thing upon your own account however reasonable it may appear unto you When ye come together into one place let there be One Prayer One Supplication one mind one hope in Love and in immaculate joy There is one Jesus Christ thaâ— whom nothing is better Therefore all concur together as into the Temple of God aâ— to one Altar to one Jesus Christ who came from one Father and being one is returned to him Be not deceived by strange opinions nor old fables which are unprofitable For if we still live according to the Law and Judaism we confess that Grace is not received For the most divine Prophets lived according to Jesus Christ and therefore they were persecuted being inspired by his Grace that they might work a perswasion in those who were not perswaded that there is one God who manifested himself by Jesus Christ his Son who is his eternal Word not coming forth from Silence who in all things pleased him that sent him Therefore if they who were conversant in the works of old time came to the Newness of Hope not Sabbatizing any longer but living according to the Dominical life of that day whereon our life did rise again through him and through his death whom some deny through which mysterie we have received both to Believe and also to endure with Patience that we may be found the Disciples of Jesus Christ our onely Master how shall we be able to live without him whom the Prophets being his Disciples looked for in Spirit as their Master and because they justly expected him he when he was come raised them from the dead Therefore let not us be insensible of his Goodness for if he should retribute to us according to what we do we should cease to be Therefore being made his Disciples let us learn to live like Christians For he who is called by any other name than this is not of God Therefore put away from you the evil leaven which is old and corrupt and be ye changed into the New Leaven which is Jesus Christ Be ye seasoned in him that none of you be corrupted for ye shall be disproved by your savour It is an absurd thing to profess Jesus Christ and yet to Judaize for Christianism hath not believed into Judaism but Judaism into Christianism that every tongue believing might be gathered unto God But these things my Beloved not because I have known any of you to be such but because though I am lesser then you I would have you to be preserved that ye may not fall into the snares of a vain opinion but may have a full assurance in the Nativity Passion and Resurrection effected in that season when Pontius Pilate was governour all truly and firmly accomplished by Jesus Christ our hope from which hope may none of you be perverted I would every way enjoy you if I may be worthy for though I am in bonds yet am I not to be compared to one of you who are at libertie I know ye are not puffed up for ye have Jesus Christ among you And I know the more I praise you it doth but shame you so much the more as it is written The just man is an accuser of himself Make it your endeavour to be confirmed in the determinations of the Lord and the Apostles that whatever ye do may be prosperous both in flesh and spirit Faith and Love in the Son and in the Father and in the Spirit in the beginning and the end together with your most venerable Bishop and your Presbyterie which is as a spiritual Crown decently plâ—tted and the Deacons who are according to God Be subject to the Bishop and one to another as Jesus Christ to the Father according to the flesh and the Apostles to Christ and to the Father and the Spirit that there may be unitie both carnal and spiritual Knowing that ye are full of God I have exhorted you but in few words Remember me in your Prayers that I may obtain God and that Church which is in Syria from whence I am not worthy to be called For I very much want your Prayer united in God and your Love that the Church which is in Syria may be accounted worthy to be watered by your Church The Ephesians from Smyrna salute you whence also I write unto you being present to the glorie of God as also ye are who have refreshed me in all things together with Polycarp the Bishop of the Smyrneans The other Churches also salute you in the honour of Jesus Christ Be strong in the concord of God being possessed with a discerning Spirit which is Jesus Christ To the Magnesians To the Philadelphians Ignatius who is also Theophorus to thâ— Church of God the Father and the Lorâ— Jesus Christ which is in Philadelphia of Asia which hath obtained mercy is settleâ— in â—he concord of God rejoycing in the Passion of our Lord indiscernably and fully assured of his Resurrection in all mercy which I salute in the bloud of Jesus Christ for she is my eternal and permanent joy chiefly if they continue united with the Bishop and the Presbytors with him and the Deacons manifested to be according to the Sentence of Jesus Christ whom he hath firmly established according to his own will by his holy Spirit WHich Bishop I have known to have obtained the Ministerie for the common good not by himself nor by men nor out of vain-glorie but by the love of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ whose mild temper I have been amazed at for by his silence he can do more than they who speak vain things For ye are as harmoniously agreeing in commands as the harp and the strings Therefore my Soul blesseth that sentence of his which is according to God knowing that it is vertuous and perfect and that he cannot be moved nor provoked to anger being in all the meekness of the Living God Being therefore the children of light and truth flie division evil doctrines Where the Pastour is do ye as sheep follow him for many wolves who seem worthy of credit do by an evil delectation lead captive persons running to God but through your unitie they shall have no place Depart from evil herbs which Jesus
Christ doth not cultivate for they are not the Plantation of the Father Not that I have found any Division amongst you but a Refining us from the Dreggs So many as are of God and of Jesus Christ are with the Bishop and so many Penitents as come over into the Unitie of the Church shall be of God that they may live according to Jesus Christ My brethren be not deceived If any man follows him who is the maker of Schism he is no inheritour of the Kingdom of God If any man walks about in a strange opinion he is not conformable to the Passion Let it be your endeavour therefore to use one Eucharist for there is One flesh oâ— our Lord Jesus Christ and one Cup for thâ— Unitie of his bloud One Altar as One Bishoâ— with the Presbyterie and Deacons my felloâ— servants that whatever ye do ye may do according to God My brethren I am verâ— much poured out in Love towards you anâ— exceedingly rejoycing strengthen you yeâ— not I but Jesus Christ for whom I am iâ— bonds and therefore am the more affraid because I am not yet taken out of the world But your Prayer to God will perfect me that I may obtain that Lot to which I waâ— chosen flying to the Gospel as to the flesh oâ— Jesus and to the Apostles as to the Presbyteriâ— of the Church We love also the Prophets because they preached the Gospel and diâ— hope in him and expect him in whom also believing they were saved in the Unitie of Jesus Christ being holy men worthy to be beloved and most worthy of admiration born witness of by Jesus Christ being his Martyrs and numbred up together in the Gospel of the common hope But if any man preach Judaism to you hear him not For it is better to hear Christianism from one circumcised than Judaism from one uncircumcised But if both of them speak not of Jesus Christ they are to me as Pillars and Monuments of dead men whereon the names of men onely are written Flie therefore evil arts and the frauds of the prince of this world lest being troubled with his opinion ye be weakned in charitie Be all of you made up into one with an undivided heart I thank my God that I have a good Conscience as concerning you and that no man hath wherof to glory either privately or publikely that I have been burdensom to any either in little or much And I beseech all to whom I have spoken that they possess not this as a Testimonie And although some would seduce me according to the flesh yet my spirit â—hich is from God is not seduced He knows â—hence it comes and whither it goes and is a reproover of secrets I have cried in the midst of you I have spoken it with a loftie voice Attend unto the Bishop and the Presbyterie and the Deacons And though some have suspected me to have spoken these things as foreknowing the Division of some yet he is my witness for whom I am a Prisoner that I have not been taught it by man but the Spirit preached it saying these things Do nothing without the Bishop Keep your flesh as the Temple of God Love Vnitie Flie divisions Be ye followers of Jesus Christ as he himself is of the Father Therefore I did what was proper for me as a man perfected unto Unitie But where there is division and wrath God dwelleth not Therefore the Lord pardons all Penitents if they shall return by Repentance to the Vnitie of God and the Council of the Bishop I believe the Grace of Jesus Christ who will loose every bond from you And I exhort you to do nothing with contention but according to the Discipline of Christ For I have heard some speaking in this wise That if I find it not amongst the Antients I do not believe the Gospel And when I replied to them That it is written They answered me It lies before us But Jesus Christ is to me Antiquitie and the Records not to be touched are his Cross and his Death and his Resurrection and the Faith which is by him in which things I would be justified through your Prayers Honourable are the Priests but more honourable the High-priest to whom are committed the Holies of Holies and with whom alone are deposited the hâ—dden things of God He is the Door of the Father by whom Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and the Prophets and Apostles and Church of God have entered All these things are for the Unitie of God But the Gospel hath something in it chiefly valueable and that is The Presence of our Lord Jesus Christ his Passion and Resurrection For the beloved Prophets preached of him but the Gospel is the Perfection of incorruption All things together are excellent if ye believe in Love But seeing that through your Prayers according to the bowels which ye have in Christ Jesus the Church which is at Antioch of Syria as is told to me is at peace it becomes you as the Church of God to ordain a Minister to go thither as an Embassadour upon the Embasie of God to joy together with them that they are made one and to glorifie his Name Blessed in Jesus Christ shall that man be who shall be accounted worthy of such a Ministery and ye your selves shall be glorified This is not impossible for the Name of God if ye have but a will to it as some neighbour Churches also have sent Bishops others Presbyters and Deacons As for Philo the Deacon of Cilicia he is a man that hath given a good Testimonie and now ministers to me in the Word of God together with Rheus Agathopus a choyce man who accompanies me from Syria having renounced this life these also bear testimonie to you and I give thanks to God for you because ye have received them as the Lord you But they who have dishonoured them may obtain Redemption by the Grace of Jesus Christ The Love of the Brethren who are at Troas saluteth you whence also I write unto you by Burrus who was sent along with me from the Ephesians and the Smyrneans for the Word of honour The Lord Jesus Christ will honour them in whom they hope in flesh soul faith love and unanimitie Farewel in Christ Jesus our common Hope Ignatius to the Philadelphians To the Trallians Ignatius who is also Theophorus to the holy Church beloved of God the Father of Jesus Christ which is in Trallis of Asia elect and divine having obtained peace in the flesh and bloud by the Passion of Jesus Christ our hope and the Resurrection grounded upon him which I salute in fulness in an Apostolical Style wishing much joy I Have known you to have a blameless understanding not to be severed in Patience and that not by use but by nature as Polybius your Bishop hath manifested to me who by the will of God and of Jesus Christ was at Smyrna and did so congratulate me a Prisoner for Jesus Christ that I